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As Vatican leader Pope Benedict never had a chance

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    John Moody on whether we should expect a new era in the Roman Catholic Church

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Joined now by John Moody who is executive vice president and executive editor of foxnews.com.

-- is all twelve Pope John -- The second a biography and also has an opinion -- -- foxnews.com now.

As Vatican leader Pope Benedict never had a chance John thank you very much for being -- festival.

Great to see you we you as surprised as everybody when you woke up and heard this news -- yeah I mean I think they kept the -- on it very well popular than any government could have.

As I understand it the way these things eventually get out is when the translations.

From Latin into all the languages of the world have to be undertaken and that he announcement is made in Latin he immediacy -- -- -- made too because history in Latin.

But of course they have to be prepared this is the modern age and as these translations are made there's always some.

Little interpreter with friend at a newspaper -- her radio station.

Now the traditional obviously as we've seen the last 600 years -- -- is a poke them.

Dies and then.

Is replace strike.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing you'll view for the Catholic Church that we now have a Pope who's resigning saying he is simply unable to carry and his duties well I I think it's a very personal very courageous thing.

Nobody gives up power.

Willingham.

With without a very good reason and I think that this Pope.

Who has been pilloried all through his his career first as a cardinal when he was called cardinal Ratzinger who and during his nearly -- year pay to see.

Never really got a break never really got the benefit of the doubt.

But he has shown consistently and it almost everything he did.

That despite his reputation he's a very humble man the heat as Lauren very aptly put it he puts the church in front of themselves.

And so I think we're seeing that playing out now.

That said.

If it becomes there.

Of course -- you have no way of knowing that for many many years if it becomes a tradition for a Pope to simply say I'm hanging it up it -- -- to get -- 401K doesn't often and -- a rocking chair.

That's going to change the very nature of the church and the papers -- how so how would it change the nature of the church -- you you knew before that.

A Pope would be there until his last breath.

And then everything could change.

Now I wonder and -- only speculating because we're none of us knows I wonder what the next -- will be like.

Knowing that a -- emeritus his predecessor -- Benedict.

Is alive and looking at everything that he's not doing interesting.

And that could have I need some that could put under a different kind of pressure that a Pope was not.

Felt the -- -- the Pope has always known that he answered only to.

God he is the vicar of Christ on earth and he has.

Has nobody to answer to accept our lord -- haven't.

He won't have to answer to the former will soon to be former Pope Benedict.

But Benedict will be there looking at him and judging and who knows maybe even sending him an email -- what to do it.

What did we won't this kind of a job is it is it exhausting for anybody nevermind an 85 year old you know I think.

While it's obviously a spiritual -- That's all the the world knows I was fortunate enough to cover.

Pope John Paul the second for quite a few years.

It is physically.

Probably it's as hard as being a professional athlete who you are constant.

In front of the camera you're constantly on the go.

I've seen reports that.

During the height of his take the -- when he was really vigorous John Paul had as many as 5000.

Appointments in the year.

-- that's just that's way too many for most humans who.

Then there's the travel and the travel is not easy yes he has -- all fitted out for his convenience.

But no matter how old you are you start and you yourself know as a reporter you travel several thousand miles at a time.

Jump out and there are hundreds of thousands of people waiting for you.

You get no downtime and get no break from that point on -- your back to the Vatican where people have been conspiring behind your back while you were gone.

And you have to go fix that he's still wouldn't we we sort of see this in the movies etc.

but is there.

Sort of the conspiring.

And the backstabbing and lead lap -- climbing.

As as virulent as we hear I'm not sure that the Da Vinci code is actually.

A transparent portrait of what goes on in the Vatican analyst -- hope -- But certainly it's it's a big institution there's a lot of power spread out among a lot of so far man.

Who want to do those things and sometimes those ambitions collide and sometimes those egos collide just.

And you know the same thing happens when you're wearing a Red -- is if you're wearing a red tie -- and the Pope really has to be the CEO of the problems over.

As a former president said the decider.

And of course in in the case of the Pope.

He's making decisions that will affect a 2000 year old institution so nothing is done -- so what happens next in terms of when.

When the conclave happens.

And when we are likely to see an appointment we'll of course -- no way of knowing how long the cardinal electors will take to pick a successor did not take very long to select Benedict.

Of course one could make the case that Benedict was standing in plain sight in the whole time as the likely successor to John Paul the second this is a different.

Period now a new era is going to start no matter who is elected there is no immediate assistance to.

Pope Benedict who could simply come up and say OK I was vice president -- -- -- president.

We're going to see a new era in the church it could be Italian.

Because the cardinals could -- they want safe choice and go back to the traditions of of five centuries of electing Italians only.

Or they could go in completely the opposite direction -- you know what it's time to Third World where the church is trying.

To establish itself and and in the case of Latin America consolidate its hold.

Has somebody at the -- to take care of those needs do you would you imagine the Pope Benedict will have any influence in this behind the scenes or whether indeed he may have already sort of handpicked successor you know.

Pope Benedict is is one of the most intelligent men I've ever -- I interviewed him when he was still cardinal Ratzinger.

And despite being incredibly modest and self effacing and -- his own -- humorous.

There's a mind at work there on like very many.

So of course he's thought this through he's thought about who he might want to have a private word with before the time comes for the -- for the conclave.

I'm sure their little conversations going on he's on Twitter now isn't he so perhaps.

But perhaps he's tweeting his -- -- -- -- not enough.

But wait there's there's a good -- that we will know by the end of march.

If it's -- it's.

To abuse the common expression a crapshoot -- they can.

Vote as long as they have to.

Until they find the proper successor and that chimney by the Sistine Chapel just keep puffing up black smoke until it doesn't.

That's when you'll know how they must -- pressured precedent to -- Half of any new pocono appointed before -- does not -- -- that yes I think it does I think the symbolism of having.

A new head of the church on the day that Christ rose from the dead is incredibly important I think all the cardinal electors will know that.

While of course they'll say nothing influences us except my heart my soul.

There's reality here they can read -- calendar and they will not want to have to face a flock of two 1000000000 Catholics on Easter morning and say.

We don't know who's in charge you -- all right John -- fascinated to.

OK thank you very much on of course is executive vice president.

And executive editor of foxnews.com.

He's the all -- of Pope John Paul the second and -- biography there it is.

Go to the iTunes bookstore right now even an old fashioned -- -- -- one if you can find when -- by.

I'm John also has fascinating piece of what foxnews.com.

As Vatican -- -- Pope Benedict never had -- chance John great C thank you so much.

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